Source: The Canadian Press

A new report suggests the profile of the typical Canadian family is undergoing some surprising changes.

The report by the Vanier Institute of the Family says that for the first time there are more unmarried than married Canadians, with about 48% of adults having tied the knot.

The institute also found there are more couples without children than with children, and married couples with kids now represent a minority in all provinces and territories.

Common-law families are the fastest-growing family type, and common-law couples with children are the fastest-growing group.

Twenty years ago, 81% of children under 15 were living with parents who were legally married, but by 2006 that proportion had fallen to just below 66%.

In the same time-frame, the proportion of children living with common-law parents tripled to almost 15% from less than 5%.

The report, entitled Families Count, is based on information from the 2006 census, the most recent data available.

IE